New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a five-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15 to 20, with a focus on strengthening trade, investment, technology and strategic cooperation with Europe and the Gulf region.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit will further deepen India’s partnership with Europe across sectors, particularly trade and investment ties in light of the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
UAE visit to focus on energy, trade and Indian diaspora
PM Modi will begin his tour with an official visit to the UAE on May 15, where he will hold talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The MEA said that the two leaders will have the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral issues, in particular energy cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
They will also discuss ways to advance the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership underpinned by strong political, cultural, economic and people-to-people links. The visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countries.
The UAE is India’s third largest trade partner and its seventh largest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years. With the UAE hosting over 4.5 million – strong Indian community, the visit will also be an opportunity to discuss their welfare.
PM Modi to visit Netherlands after 2017
In the second leg of the tour, PM Modi will visit the Netherlands from May 15 to 17 at the invitation of Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. This will be his second visit to the country after 2017.
During the visit, PM Modi will call on King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten. PM Modi’s visit will build on the momentum of high-level engagements and close cooperation spanning diverse sectors, including defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a Strategic Partnership on Water.
The MEA said that the Prime Minister’s visit early in the tenure of the new government will provide an opportunity to further deepen and expand the multifaceted partnership.
Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade worth $27.8 billion (2024-25); and India’s 4th largest investor with cumulative FDI of $55.6 billion.
Sweden visit to highlight innovation and green transition
PM Modi will travel to Gothenburg, Sweden, on May 17-18 at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
The MEA said that PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with PM Kristersson to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance bilateral trade, which has reached $7.75 billion (2025), and Swedish FDI into India which has reached $2.825 billion (2000 – 2025), as well as collaboration in green transition, AI, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space, climate action and people-to-people ties.
The two Prime Ministers will also address the European Round Table for Industry, a leading pan-European business leaders forum, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Norway visit and India-Nordic Summit
In the fourth leg of the tour, PM Modi will visit Norway from May 18 to 19 for bilateral engagements and the 3rd India-Nordic Summit.
This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit to Norway and the first prime ministerial visit from India to the country in 43 years.
During his visit, PM Modi will call on with King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. He will also address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit along with the Norwegian PM.
The MEA said that the visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in India-Norway relations and explore avenues to further strengthen them, with a focus on trade and investment, capitalizing on the India – EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as on clean & green tech and blue economy.
The visit will also be an opportunity to induce momentum in bilateral trade worth around USD 2.73 billion (2024), and investments by Norway’s Government Pension Fund (GPFG) of close to USD 28 billion in the Indian capital market.
India-Nordic Summit to focus on technology and sustainability
The 3rd India-Nordic Summit will be held in Oslo on May 19. Apart from PM Modi and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the summit will be attended by Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, Finnish PM Petteri Orpo, Icelandic PM Kristrún Frostadóttir and Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson.
The MEA said that the Summit will build upon the two previous Summits held in Stockholm in April 2018 and in Copenhagen in May 2022, and will impart a more strategic dimension to India’s relationship with the Nordic countries, especially in technology and innovation; green transition and renewable energy; sustainability; blue economy; defence; space and the Arctic.
The visit will also provide an impetus to India’s bilateral trade ($19 billion in 2024) and investment ties with Nordic countries as well as help build resilient supply chains following the India-EU FTA and India-EFTA TEPA.
Italy visit to conclude diplomatic tour
In the final leg of the visit, PM Modi will travel to Italy from May 19 to 20 at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
PM Modi had last visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 Summit.
During his visit, PM Modi will call on Italian President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister Meloni.
The MEA said the visit takes place in the backdrop of a strong momentum in bilateral ties with both sides proactively implementing the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, a comprehensive road map for cooperation in various sectors including in bilateral trade which reached $16.77 in 2025; boosting investment, which has recorded a cumulative FDI of $3.66 billion (April 2000-September 2025); defense and security; clean energy; innovation; science and technology; and people to people ties.
(DD News)
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